Tunnel completed for Yichang-Xingshan railway
2024-11-28 16:11:49
By Yan Wanqin. Wan Chunfeng, Gong Jing, Qiao Changjiao also contributed to this article.
A key tunnel of the Yichang-Xingshan High-speed Railway was completed on Tuesday after 1,390 days of construction. With the completion of the tunnel, all 21 tunnels along the railway have been completed.
A key tunnel of the Yichang-Xingshan High-speed Railway was completed on Tuesday after 1,390 days of construction. With the completion of the tunnel, all 21 tunnels along the railway have been completed.
Construction workers celebrate the completion of the Changgangling Tunnel. Photo by Qiao Changjiao.
The Changgangling Tunnel links Xiabaoping Town in Yiling District to Shuiyuesi Town in Xingshan County. At 13,751 meters, it is the second-longest railway tunnel. Construction began in February 2021.
The tunnel traverses complex geological formations, complicating the construction process. To expedite progress, the construction team has employed innovative technologies and various mechanical equipment.
The tunnel traverses complex geological formations, complicating the construction process. To expedite progress, the construction team has employed innovative technologies and various mechanical equipment.
A schematic diagram shows the Yichang-Xingshan High-Speed Railway (in red). Photo courtesy of China Railway First Bureau.
The railway spans 109 kilometers and is designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour. It connects Yichang's downtown with Xingshan County, linking to the Zhengzhou-Chongqing High-Speed Railway.
Expected to be completed by the end of 2025, the railway will reduce travel time from Yichang to Chongqing from 4 hours to under 3 hours, and cut the journey from Xingshan to Yichang from 2 hours to 20 minutes.
